A rebel lorry with a rocket launcher is seen through a the Libyan rebellion's flag. / ODD ANDERSEN AFP/Getty Images

by Jabeen Bhatti,, Special for USA TODAY

by Jabeen Bhatti,, Special for USA TODAY

More than a thousand prisoners escaped during a riot at Kuayfia Prison near Benghazi Saturday and remain on the run, according to Libyan security officials.

A total of 1,200 convicted criminals escaped from the government facility, about 10 miles east of Benghazi Saturday morning, reported the Libya Herald. They escaped while a group of the prison's 4,000 inmates were engaged in "civil disobedience," a spokesman for the Benghazi Joint Security Room, Mohamed Hejaz told the newspaper.

"Libyan Army Special Forces surrounded and secured the prison and other teams then started to search for the escapees," Hejazi said, adding that only 18 had been caught.

The escapees are serving sentences for a range of crimes, including murder, drug dealing and crimes of morality, Hejazi said.

Although the riot gave the inmates the opportunity to escape, Hejazi admitted that security at the facility was substandard.

"They were able to escape because the prison did not have enough security equipment to secure either the staff or the facility," he said.

The prison is now under the control of the Special Forces of the Libyan Army.